Azeotrope-like compositions of pentafluoropropene and 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane

Abstract

The present invention provides azeotrope-like compositions of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245cb) with either the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene (HFO-1225yeZ) alone or with mixtures of the E and Z isomers of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene (HFO-1225 yeZ and HFO-1225 yeE) and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, and aerosol propellants, and in process for separating azeotrope-like mixtures.

1. An azeotrope-like composition comprising a first component comprising 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane and a second component which comprises either the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene or a mixture of the E isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene and the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene. 
     
     
       2. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 1  wherein the second component comprises the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene. 
     
     
       3. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 2  comprising from about 1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane and from about 50 to about 99 weight percent of the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene. 
     
     
       4. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 2  comprising from about 4 wt. % to about 46 wt. % of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane and from about 54 to about 96 weight percent of the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene. 
     
     
       5. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 2  comprising from about 11 wt. % to about 41 wt. % of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane and from about 59 to about 89 weight percent of the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene. 
     
     
       6. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 2  which has a boiling point of from about 18.9° C. to about −19.3° C. at a pressure of about 14.4 psia. 
     
     
       7. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 1  wherein the second component comprises a mixture of the E isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene and the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene. 
     
     
       8. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 7  wherein the Z isomer is present in the second component at a weight ratio of from about 5 wt. % to about 95 wt. %, and the E isomer is present in the second component at a weight ratio of from about 95 wt. % to about 5 wt. % based on the total weight of the second component. 
     
     
       9. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 7  wherein the Z isomer is present in the second component at a weight ratio of from about 15 wt. % to about 90 wt. %, and the E isomer is present in the second component at a weight ratio of from about 85 wt. % to about 10 wt. % based on the total weight of the second component. 
     
     
       10. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 7  wherein the Z isomer is present in the second component at a weight ratio of from about 45 wt. % to about 85 wt. %, and the E isomer is present in the second component at a weight ratio of from about 55 wt. % to about 15 wt. % based on the total weight of the second component. 
     
     
       11. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 7  wherein the azeotrope-like composition comprises from about 70 wt. % to less than 100 wt. % of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane and from greater than zero to about 30 wt. % of the second component. 
     
     
       12. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 7  wherein the azeotrope-like composition comprises from about 75 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane and from about 5 wt. % to about 25 wt. % of the second component. 
     
     
       13. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 7  wherein the azeotrope-like composition comprises from about 80 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane and from about 10 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of the second component. 
     
     
       14. The azeotrope-like composition of  claim 7  which has a boiling point of from about −17.7° C. to about −18° C. at a pressure of about 14.4 psia. 
     
     
       15. A sprayable composition comprising a material to be sprayed and a propellant comprising the azeotrope-like composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       16. A refrigerant composition comprising the azeotrope-like composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       17. A refrigeration system comprising the refrigerant composition of  claim 16 . 
     
     
       18. A method for changing the temperature of an article which comprises condensing the refrigerant composition of  claim 16  and thereafter evaporating said refrigerant composition in the vicinity of the article which is to be cooled, or heating an article which comprises condensing the refrigerant composition in the vicinity of the article to be heated and thereafter evaporating said refrigerant composition. 
     
     
       19. A method of recharging a refrigerant system that contains a refrigerant to be replaced and a lubricant comprising the steps of: (a) removing at least a portion of the refrigerant to be replaced from the refrigeration system while retaining a substantial portion of the lubricant in said system; and (b) introducing to the system a refrigerant composition of  claim 16 . 
     
     
       20. The foamable composition of  claim 16  wherein said at least one thermoset component comprises a composition capable of forming a polyurethane foam, a polyisocyanurate foam, or a phenolic foam. 
     
     
       21. A blowing agent comprising the azeotrope-like composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       22. A foamable composition comprising the azeotrope-like composition of  claim 1  and a composition capable of forming a thermoset foam. 
     
     
       23. The foamable composition of  claim 22  wherein composition capable of forming a thermoplastic foam comprises a polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethyleneterephthalate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       24. A polyol premix composition which comprises a combination of a blowing agent, a polyol, a surfactant, and an amine catalyst, wherein the blowing agent comprises the azeotrope-like composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       25. The polyol premix composition of  claim 24  wherein the blowing agent further comprises a hydrocarbon, halogenated hydrocarbon, CO 2  generating material, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       26. The polyol premix composition of  claim 25  wherein the halogenated hydrocarbon comprises a chlorofluorocarbon, hydrochlorofluorocarbon, hydrofluorocarbon, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       27. A method for modifying a refrigeration apparatus which refrigeration apparatus comprises a refrigerant, which refrigerant comprises a combination of a chlorofluorocarbon or a hydrochlorofluorocarbon and a mineral oil, comprising removing at least a portion of the chlorofluorocarbon or hydrochlorofluorocarbon from the refrigerant and leaving a residue comprising the mineral oil, and adding to said residue an azeotrope-like composition comprising a first component comprising 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane and a second component which comprises either the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene or a mixture of the E isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene and the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene. 
     
     
       28. A foamable composition comprising the azeotrope-like composition of  claim 1  and a composition capable of forming a thermoplastic foam. 
     
     
       29. A process for separating a first component comprising 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane from an azeotrope-like composition of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane and a second component which comprises either the Z-isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene or a mixture of the E isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene and the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene comprising the steps of (A) distilling a composition comprising an azeotrope-like composition of a first component comprising 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane and a second component which comprises either the Z-isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene or a mixture of the E isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene and the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene at a first pressure to produce a first overhead stream enriched in either the first component comprising 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane or the second component which comprises Z-isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene or a mixture of the E isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene and the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene and a first bottoms stream enriched in the other component; and (B) redistilling the first overhead stream at a second pressure to produce a second overhead stream enriched in the component enriched in the first bottoms stream and a second bottoms stream enriched in the component enriched in the first overhead stream. 
     
     
       30. A process for separating a first component comprising 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane from an azeotrope-like composition of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane and a second component which comprises either the Z-isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene or a mixture of the E isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene and the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene comprising subjecting the azeotrope-like composition to pressure swing distillation.